Animal User Information

Any staff or student at Deakin University, who intends on using animals for research or teaching, must obtain approval from the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). Approval must be obtained priorto commencing the project.

Researchers are required to submit a New AEC Application to the AEC Office before the application closing date.

Working off-campus or at another institution:

Any Deakin University staff or students who intends on initiating or collaborating in work off-campus, must complete an external project request form and submit it to the AEC Office.

Widlife Studies

Research involving wildlife may require approval and permits from other authorities, in addition to AEC approval. The use of wildlife in research and teaching is regulated by the Wildlife Act 1975, which may impose specific requirements on projects depending on the nature and location of the research. Further information on wildlife research is available from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
websites.

Staff or students at Deakin University are required to submit a New Application and obtain approval from the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) if they intend on using animals for research or teaching. Approval must be obtained prior to commencing the project. The application form can be found on the forms and guidelines page.

Pre-review and Submission Instructions

New animal ethics applications must undergo a pre-review process prior to submission to the AEC. This process will provide feedback and recommendations on the application to be considered by researchers.

New applications are to be submitted by the APPLICATION DEADLINE via the AEC Application Lodgement

Visit deadlines for application closing dates for AEC meetings.
If you are unable to include scanned or electronic signatures in the electronic submission, hard copy signature sheets must be provided to the Animal Ethics Office

The AEC is responsible for approving, advising, monitoring the use and supply of animals in research or teaching at Deakin University. The AEC assesses an application by applying set of principles that govern the ethical code of conduct for the use of animals in research or teaching to ensure that the use of animals is justified, the welfare of the animals are provided for, and the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the Three R's) have been incorporated into the purpose and design of the project.

The AEC has the option ofoneof four levels of response to applications:

Project approved without modification

Project approved with conditions

Project approved with modifications (clarifications):

Minor modifications - approved by the Executive Committee*

Major modifications - must be resubmitted and reviewed at a full AEC Meeting

Project not approved (resubmission may be requested)

*Executive Committee: The Executive Committee consists of four members of the AEC who can make decisions on minor modifications to approved projects between full AEC meetings.

Researchers will be informed via email of the AEC decision within one week of an AEC meeting.

IMPORTANT: Investigators and students must not begin any scientific or teaching activities involving the use of animals before receipt of a formal approval noticefrom the AEC Officer.

Investigators must notify the AEC in writing if they are involved in collaborative studies using animals at another institution, or if they are named in an application to the AEC of another institution (section 2.6.8 Code).

Deakin University staff or students who initiate or collaborate in work off-campus that involve the use of animals, must submit the following to the AEC Office.

Submit the following to the AEC Office:

A copy of the approval notice from the External Animal Ethics Committee

Interstate Licensing Requirements

Researchers who wish to conduct animal research in States and Territories other than Victoria must meet the particular State/Territory licensing requirements. If the work involves the use of animals interstate or overseas researchers are advised to contact us immediately as there may be a requirement for additional state licencing to be undertaken by Deakin University.

Animal ethics approval from Deakin University does not automatically allow research to be conducted in other Australian States and may require further approval from an animal ethics committee of the other state.

Additional approval or licensing can be a lengthy and expensive process.

All requests for minor changes to an approved project must be approved by the AEC. Modifications request will only be considered if the changes are deemed by the AEC to be minor (having no significantly different impact on the animals welfare).

Request to modify an application may include:

Extension of time

Change to animal numbers

Change to animal species/strain

Change to protocol

Change in personnel

Anew application is required if the modification request is deemed by the AEC to have the potential in causing a significantly different animal welfare impact to that which was originally approved by the AEC for the project.

The continuation of all approved animal ethics projects is contingent upon the receipt and approval of an annual report to the AEC. Each year during the duration of the life of the project, the Primary Investigators is required to submit an annual report to the AEC Office end of January.

Investigators and teachersmust maintain records of the use and monitoring of animals used for scientific purposes (Section 3.1.9 of the Code). For every approved AEC application, the records should include:

Under Sections 2.4.18(ix), 2.4.34, and 3.1.24, theAustralian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013) the principal investigator is required to promptly notify the Deakin University Animal Ethics Committee of any unexpected animal deaths or adverse or unforeseen circumstances that may impact on an animal's wellbeing

What is an unexpected adverse event?

Unexpected adverse event: an event that may have a negative impact on the wellbeing of animals and was not foreshadowed in the approved project or activity.

An unexpected adverse event may result from different causes, including but not limited to:

death of an animal**, or group of animals, that was not expected (e.g. during surgery or anaesthesia, or after a procedure or treatment)

adverse effects following a procedure or treatment that were not expected

adverse effects in a larger number of animals than predicted during the planning of the project or activity, based on the number of animals actually used, not the number approved for the study

a greater level of pain or distress than was predicted during the planning of the project or activity

power failures, inclement weather, emergency situations or other factors external to the project or activity that have a negative impact on the welfare of the animals.

**Unexpected animal deaths: When an animal dies unexpectedly, or is humanely killed due to unforeseen complications, a necropsy should be performed by a competent person (section 3.1.25)